Bentley’s Best Yet to Come?

Though it’s been around in one form or another for decades, Bentley’s huge flagship Arnage/Azure is soon to be retired. The 2009 Bentley Azure T, launched at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, is the model line’s swan song—and with a 5.2-second 0-to-60-mph time and a 179-mph top speed, the three-ton ragtop represents a helluva way to go out.

But Bentley won’t be without a flagship for long. The ultra-lux market “is our heartland,” said Stuart McCullough, board member for sales and marketing, during an interview at the L.A. show. He went on to say that the Arnage replacement will have an “attitude toward craftsmanship and longevity.” We take that to mean it will have classic styling and a palatial, extremely lavish interior that does not strive so hard to look modern as its market rival, the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

At the same time, we should also expect the new car to utilize more space-age materials such as the advanced lightweight-polymer seat tracks rendered through rapid prototyping that are found in the $400K Brooklands coupe and the new Azure T.

Finally, the new flagship will also be a torque monster, just like its predecessors. McCullough said that the company focuses on “performance delivery”—i.e. forceful acceleration through extremely high low-end torque. “Our engineers are obsessed with low-end torque.” Good. So are we.

Bentley to Focus on Individualization in the Future

Without getting any more specific about that car, McCullough did give us an idea of what we can expect from Bentley as a brand. “We would like to take coachbuilding further.” He referenced Bentley’s history back in the 1920s and 1930s of selling a chassis and engine to a customer, who would then have input on the design of the body and interior that would be fitted around them. Of course, this initiative will have to work within today’s much stricter regulatory framework in terms of safety and emissions, he said. Bentley is already renowned, however, for its Mulliner custom-build program that includes long-wheelbase versions of the Arnage, armored cars, and purpose-built vehicles built for royalty, so if there’s any company experienced enough to know how far it can push the envelope, it’s Bentley.

Also—surprisingly—another Bentley insider at the show also said that the company is preparing a plan to reduce emissions of its cars “to Prius levels.” We’ll hear about this plan in early 2009, likely at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, at which point we’ll see to what extent that might be an exaggeration.

Arnage Replacement to Have it All

The Arnage replacement, then, should embody all of the above: classic styling, a high level of customizability, and torque for days, with a nod to the environment tossed in for good measure. Bentley has released an official teaser image shown here, all but confirming its pledge to “classic styling,” with sheet metal sculpting reminiscent of the current Arnage. It will face more competition than ever, including not just the Phantom, but also the next-generation Maybach as well as the next Lagonda, which will be sold through Aston Martin dealer channels but is expected to share much with the Maybach. The new grand Bentley will be revealed (along with its name) at this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on August 16.

As for derivatives of the popular Continental lineup, such as a rumored Continental “lightweight,” McCullough has no comment other than “anything is possible.”